It is a known fact that learning
a foreign language can prove a valuable experience for everybody.

The road is being paved in the European Union for fostering the learning of foreign languages and for encouraging cultural exchanges : it is a global world we
live in and more and more
opportunities are being offered for those who are willing to take the plunge, pack up and cross the border in the quest for new linguistic and personal experiences.

The Erasmus Students have
been travelling for some time
now to different parts of Europe.
But it was college students who were
granted the chance to do so.

Now , if you are a secondary student, you can also make the most
of this wonderful adventure.

Nevertheless, not everybody
agrees that travelling as a
secondary student is always going to
bring benefits to those partaking of this project.

A few days ago we read an article published in the weekly issue of El Periódico (21ST
December, 2016).

The article, written by Miguel Vilaseró and María Jesús Ibáñez, sheds some light on the
ongoing debate about whether or not to send our secondary students abroad with an Erasmus grant.

The reading of the article was a
stepping-stone that enabled us to think
of the pros and cons of such an
experience.

I asked my students to write a
few comments on the matter.

1) I would apply for an Erasmus Grant because of
different reasons.

First of all, I think an Erasmus Grant is the best opportunity to
flourish, to forge our thought, to mature and to learn new cultures that will
make us tolerant and reasonable people.

Secondly, the younger you are, the better you learn a foreign language.
The best way to learn languages is by living abroad, so adolescence is the
perfect moment.

Furthermore, I think it won’t be a problem if the Erasmus Grant is
during the Secondary School, because these aren’t crucial years for our
education, I mean not as crucial as Bachillerato is.

In short, I wish I were younger to be able to apply for an Erasmus Grant; however, it’s too
late. This is a great idea and the best opportunity to know all the things
which are beyond our village or city, to learn a foreign language and to make
us better.

Mar Solas Almagro, 2º Bachillerato Bilingüe

2) Firstly, I would apply for an Erasmus Grant because
you have the possibility to learn another language.

Furthermore, you can see how
other educative systems work and you get used to a different culture and way of
living ; that makes you have a broader
perspective of life in general.

However, it makes you miss your country because you are used to another
culture and it makes you feel like a different person in a different country.

Elena
Sánchez Romero, 2º Bachillerato Bilingüe

3)"I
would apply for an Erasmus Grant because..."

First,
I believe that it is an experience that you have to live if you are a teen because
you can learn another language, and nowadays to know how to speak a foreign
languages is so important. Also you can mature with this experience and learn
how to be meet up with new people.

On
the other hand, to go to a foreign country you must know for what you want to
achieve, and you must bear in mind that it is not holidays : you are in a
different country to study.

In
conclusion, an experience like that must be an interesting way of learn and
improve all your skills.

Alicia Aranda Rosa, 2ºBachillerato Bilingüe

4)
I would apply for an Erasmus Great
because:

First, I would like to learn a
new language or practice one language which I have already known at High
School.

Secondly, I want to travel
abroad and to know some different cultures.

Next, I think I would be more
responsible and more independent as you have to do all by yourself without any
help.

Finally, I would made friends
from all over the world who I could always visit or they could come to visit
me!

Sandra Montoro Mesa,2ºBachillerato
Bilingüe

5) I would apply for an Erasmus Grant because….

I think this
experience is going to enrich me in many aspects of my life.

First of all, it
would provide me with the independence that I need, that is to say, moving out
of my comfort zone.

Secondly,
travelling abroad will always be an unforgettable memory : it ill give you the
chance to meet new people and get familiar with a new culture and indeed you will be surprised
due to differences.

Furthermore, you have
to keep in mind that it's an investment in happiness. At least, from my point
view ,since your mind is going to open up to lots of new possibilities.

Last but not least
it's the best way to learn a language and practise it.

Al things considered,
I am deeply sure that a grant is the
best option to live a worthwhile experience, without any doubts.

So, if you can improve
your knowledge, why not try it?

Carmen Cobo López, 2º Bachillerato Bilingüe

6) I would apply for an Erasmus Grant because I would improve my English level,I have a B1 in
English and I think that an
Erasmus Grant would improve my English Level.

I believe that an Erasmus Grant can help you to become more independent and to
learn how to live alone and have a more responsible control of your money.

I think that Erasmus Grants should
only be offered in E.S.O because
teenagers have more free time whereas in Bachillerato they should study a lot
and they have to study for P.A.U,son an Erasmus Grant would not be a good idea.

In my opinion,I would like to
apply for an Erasmus Grant but I believe
it´s a bit late so I would apply for an Erasmus
Grant at university.

María
Real Jiménez, 2º Bachillerato Bilingüe

7) I would apply for an Erasmus Grant because…

Nowadays, a big number of teenagers apply for an Erasmus Grant for studying abroad, in a
foreign country.

This Erasmus Grant is a great privilege because of the many advantages it
has.

First, the main advantage is the learning of a new language and culture.

Young people have the opportunity of improving this foreign language and
knowing more about it.

Furthermore, teenagers can meet a lot of new people from other

nationalities and enjoy a lot of good and fantastic moments with them.

Finally, I strongly believe that the application for an Erasmus Grant is an

opportunity that nobody must reject because it can make him be a better

and a more international person.

Marta Gámez Valero,
2º Bachillerato Bilingüe

As we have read
above, applying for an Erasmus Grant is food for thought , and we can conclude
with the famous English Idiom : The Jury is still out on whether applying for
an Erasmus Grant as a teenage student
can provide you with lots of benefits, but most students would be
willing to risk some months for the sake
of improving their qualifications,
broadening their learning horizons, and living new positive experiences in life.